Integrated tensioning system and fly closure for a garment

ABSTRACT

A tensioning and closure system for a waistband of a garment, such as trousers is disclosed. A waistband defines an opening and a tensioning member is secured on one side of the opening. A receiver configured to receive the tensioning member is positioned on an opposite side of the opening and receives the tensioning member in order to close the opening. A tensioning strap includes a first portion anchored at a first end and extending to the tensioning member and a second portion passing from the tensioning member back toward the first end. A second end of the tensioning strap may be pulled to increase tension in the first portion and adjust the effective size of the waistband. The first portion may pass through a first sleeve secured to the waistband and the second portion may pass through a second sleeve secured to the waistband and overlapping the first sleeve.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to trousers with integrated adjustablewaistbands

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many manufacturers have attempted to make trousers that are adjustablein some way. For example, a long-used approach is to include a tab on awaistband that includes a buttonhole that may be engaged with a buttonfrom a set of buttons near the tab in order to adjust the effective sizeof the waistband. Another approach is to sew a buckle and a strap to thewaistband. The strap may be secured within the buckle by means of holestherein or by friction between itself and the buckle. By adjusting theposition of the strap within the buckle, the effective size of thewaistband may be adjusted. In some instances, some, or all, of the strapmay be routed within a pocket defined within the waistband, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,930. These prior approaches have thedisadvantage of requiring bulky and rigid structures secured to thewaistband thereby adding extra components and increasing manufacturingcosts and providing opportunities to snag the buckles or buttons onequipment or other items. The bulky and rigid structures also clearlydisplay that the trousers are adjustable and may diminish the aestheticappeal of the trousers.

In view of the foregoing, it would be an advancement in the art toprovide an adjustable waistband for trousers that does not have theabove-noted deficiencies of prior approaches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, a garment is shaped to receive a portionof a wearer's body and includes a waistband configured to encircle thewaist of the wearer when the portion of the wearer's body is positionedwithin the garment. The waistband defines an opening extending throughthe waistband. The garment further includes a tensioning strap anchoredat a first end to the waistband. The tensioning strap extends from thefirst end through a tensioning member. A receiver is secured to thewaistband on a second side of the opening, the second side is oppositethe first side. The receiver is configured to receive the tensioningmember and to selectively secure the tensioning member to the waistbandon the second side of the opening. In some embodiments, no fastener orstructure, other than the tensioning member and receiver, is configuredto or operable to span the opening to couple the waistband on the secondside of the opening to the waistband on the second side of the opening.

In some embodiments, the receiver is a buttonhole and the tensioningmember has an extent in a first plane that is less than a thickness ofthe tensioning member perpendicular to the first plane such that thetensioning member is insertable edgewise into the button hole andresists removal when the first plane is coextensive with a portion ofthe waistband surrounding the buttonhole. In some embodiments, thetensioning member is a button, such as a button having a round perimeterin the first plane.

In some embodiments, an anchor strip is secured at both ends to thewaistband. The tensioning strap may extend from the first end, over afirst side of the anchor strip facing the waistband, then through thetensioning member, and then over a second side of the anchor stripopposite the first side of the anchor strip.

In some embodiments, the garment includes first and second sleeve layerssecured at their edges to the waistband. The second sleeve layer issecured to the waistband such that it is partially overlapped by thefirst sleeve layer and extends circumferentially along the waistbandbeyond the first sleeve layer and away from the opening. The firstsleeve and second sleeve layers may be secured to the waistband at upperand lower edges thereof, having the second sleeve layer positionedbetween the first sleeve layer and the waistband. The first end of thetensioning strap may be anchored between the second sleeve layer and thewaistband. In some embodiments, the second sleeve layer extendscircumferentially around substantially all of the waistband and thetensioning strap extends from the first side of the opening and betweenthe second sleeve layer and the waistband to the second side of theopening.

In some embodiments, the tensioning strap includes a narrow portion anda wide portion, the wide portion extending between the waistband and aportion of the second sleeve layer not overlapped by the first sleevelayer and a narrow portion extending between the first and second sleevelayers and through the tensioning member.

In some embodiments, a widened portion is secured to the tensioningstrap at the second end, the widened portion effective to hinder entryof the tensioning strap into the sleeve. For example, the widenedportion may be one or more loops of the tensioning strap fastened to thetensioning strap. The widened portion may a first loop portion extendingtoward the first sleeve layer and a second loop portion extending awayfrom the first sleeve layer, the second loop portion sized to receive awearer's finger.

A method of use of the disclosed garment is also disclosed and claimedherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention aredescribed in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of trousers including a tensioning system inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of a tensioning system in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view showing sleeves for atensioning strap in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a partial front view of a free end of a tensioning strap inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of an alternative embodiment of atensioning system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a partial isometric view of a tensioning member of atensioning system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a partial front view of another alternative embodiment of atensioning system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatuses and methods as disclosed herein maybe incorporated into trousers 10. The trousers 10 may be any type oftrousers made of any type of material known in the art. As known in theart, trousers 10 include leg portions 12 a, 12 b that surround the legsof a wearer and that are joined to a waistband 14 that encircles thewaist of the wearer. Upper portions of the leg portions 12 a, 12 b maybe sewn together to form the waistband or the waistband may be one ormore strips of material sewn to upper portions of the leg portions 12 a,12 b. Trousers may include a fly 16 that may be embodied as upper frontedges of the leg portions 12 a, 12 b that are not permanently joinedtogether, such as by stitching. As known in the art, the fly 16 mayinclude a closure 18 that may be opened and closed to join the opposingedges of the leg portion 12 a, 12 b and waistband 14 on either side ofthe fly 16. For example, the closure 18 may be a zipper, one or morebuttons, or some other closure means.

Although the tensioning system is described herein with respect totrousers, other garments may also advantageously be used. For example, awaistband of a skirt may include the combined tensioning and fasteningsystem disclosed herein at the front or back thereof. Many jackets andcoats have waistbands at the lower edge thereof that may be tensionedand fastened according to the apparatus and methods disclosed herein.

The trousers may include a tensioning strap 20 that extends along atleast a portion of the waistband 14. The tensioning strap 20 may have afree end 22 that a wearer may pull in order to increase the tension inthe waistband 14 or to decrease the effective circumference of thewaistband 14. The tensioning strap 20 may be made of an elastic materialor a substantially inelastic, e.g. static, material that does notsignificantly stretch in response to tension. For example, an elasticmaterial may be a sheet of material that extends less than 10%,preferably less than 5% of its length, more preferably less than 2% ofits length, in response to loading of 1 N per 10 cm of width. An elasticmaterial may be defined as a material that is not an inelastic materialaccording to any of the various definitions above.

The tensioning strap 20 may pass through a tensioning member 24 that isoperable to maintain tension within the tensioning strap and enableincreasing and decreasing of tension within the tensioning strap. Forexample, the tensioning member 24 may be embodied as a single, double,or triple bar buckle. As known in the art, in a first state ororientation such buckles may permit a strap to be tightened in responseto a first amount of tension and retain the strap despite tension in thestrap equal to the first amount of tension or some second amount oftension up to a failure or slippage point. Such buckles are also knownin the art that may release the strap to return through the buckleresponsive to lifting up on an edge of the buckle or otherwisere-orienting the buckle to a second state in which resistance to passageof a strap therethrough is reduced. The tensioning member 24 may also bea spring-loaded cord lock that allows a cord or strap to passtherethrough responsive to a first amount of tension in a first statewhen a button is depressed but require a much larger amount of tensionto move the cord or strap therethrough in a second state when the buttonis not depressed.

The tensioning member 24 may be sized to engage a retainer 26 secured tothe waistband 14 on an opposite side of the fly 16 from the tensioningapparatus. In particular, the tensioning member 24 may engage theretainer 26 to close the fly 16 and secure opposite sides of the flytogether. The engagement of the tensioning member 24 and the retainer 26may be the exclusive means for joining the edges of the waistband 14 oneither side of the fly 16, other than the closure 18 positioned belowthe retainer 26 and tensioning member 24. Where the waistband 14 is aseparate strip of material than the leg portions 12 a, 12 b, in someembodiments, the engagement of the tensioning member 24 with theretainer 26 may be the exclusive means secured directly to the waistband14 itself for securing one edge of the waistband to an opposing edge ofthe waistband opposite the fly 16. However, in other embodiments, theremay be an auxiliary means of joining the edges of the fly 16, includingedges of the waistband 14, to one another. For example, a conventionalbutton and buttonhole, snap fastener, hook and clasp, or any otherfastening means that may be used to fasten portions of a garment or fly.

In the illustrated embodiment, the retainer 26 is a buttonhole, e.g. avertical or horizontal slit that may be hemmed with reinforcingstitching. The tensioning member 24 may be sized to fit through thebuttonhole edgewise but when positioned flat over the buttonholerequires a greater amount of force to remove due to the tensioningmember 24 extending outwardly above and below the buttonhole, outwardlyon both sides of the buttonhole, or both. The tensioning member 24 maybe substantially flat such that in at least one plane it has an extentmany times greater, e.g. 3 to 8 times greater, than the extent thereofperpendicular to that plane. The tensioning member 24 may also have around perimeter in the plane such that it may look and operate as aconventional button. Many buckles are square or rectangular, accordinglythe tensioning member 24 may likewise be square or rectangular in theplane. Cord locks may be generally cylindrical in cross section.Accordingly, a tensioning member 24 embodied as a cord lock may have alength such that, when positioned perpendicular to the long dimension ofthe slit defining the buttonhole, the tensioning member 24 can resistremoval through the buttonhole.

In some embodiments, a portion of the tensioning strap 20 between thefree end 22 and the tensioning member 24 may pass under a sleeve layer28 that is secured above and below the tensioning strap 20, e.g. at thesleeve layer's upper and lower edges, to the waistband 14 to define asleeve between the sleeve layer 28 and the waistband 14. In someembodiments, the outer sleeve layer 28 is omitted and the free end 22 isnot restrained thereby.

Referring to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, a tensioning strap 20 may befolded into two portions 20 a, 20 b, both emanating away from the fly 16and tensioning member 24. The portion 20 b may pass through the sleevedefined by the sleeve layer 28. The portion 20 a may pass through asleeve defined between an inner sleeve layer 30 and the waistband 14. Insuch embodiments, the portion 20 b may be positioned within a sleevedefined by the sleeve layer 28 and the inner sleeve layer 30.

Referring to FIG. 3 while still referring to FIG. 2, the waistband 14may have both of the sleeve layers 28, 30 secured thereto having thesleeve layer 30 positioned between the sleeve layer 28 and the waistband14 for the circumferential extent of the waistband in which these layersoverlap one another. The upper and lower edges of the layers 28 aresecured to the waistband 14 to define the sleeves. The portion 20 apasses through the space between the inner sleeve layer 30 and thewaistband 14. The portion 20 b passes through the space between theouter sleeve layer 28 and the inner sleeve layer 30.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the outer sleeve layer 28 may extend onlypartially over the portion of the waistband 14 covered by the innersleeve layer 30. Accordingly, the outer sleeve layer 28 may define anedge 32 from which the tensioning strap portion 20 b and free end 22 bemanate. Both sleeve layers 28, 30 may have a commonly located edge 34adjacent the tensioning member 24, or the edges of the layers 28, 30adjacent the tensioning member 24 may be slightly offset form oneanother. One or more pairs of more anchors (e.g. bar tack stitching 36)may secure the outer sleeve layer 28 to one or both of the inner sleevelayer 30 and the waistband 14, having the anchors 36 of each pairpositioned on either side of the tensioning strap portions 20 a, 20 b.The anchors 36 define a gap therebetween that constrains one or both ofthe tensioning strap portions 20 a, 20 b to be located within a firstregion that is smaller than a second region defined between lines ofsecurement of the sleeve layers 28, 30 to the waistband 40 (e.g.stitching securing the sleeve layers 28, 30 to the waistband). Forexample, the first region may be no more than 30%, preferably 20%, andmore preferably 10%, wider than a width of the tensioning strap portions20 a, 20 b. The second region may be two, three, four, or more timeswider than the widths of the tensioning strap portions 20 a, 20 b. Theanchors 36 may ensure that the gap within which the tensioning strapportion 20 b is narrow such that the free end 22 is not drawn in to thesleeve defined by the outer sleeve portion 32.

The inner sleeve layer 30 may extend circumferentially beyond the edge32 and away from the fly 16. The inner sleeve layer 30 may, for example,extend beyond the edge 32 to an outseam of the trousers 10 or some otherpoint. In some embodiments, the portion 20 a may extend around all orsubstantially all of the entire circumferential extent of the waistband14, e.g. 80%, preferably 90%, and more preferably 95%. The end of thetensioning strap portion 20 a may be anchored to one or both of thewaistband 14 and inner sleeve layer 30 by means of an anchor 38, whichmay be embodied as bar tack stitching passing through the portion 20 aand one or both of the waistband 14 and inner sleeve layer 30.

A free end 22 of the tensioning strap portion 20 b may include anenlarged portion or enlarging structure secured thereto in order toprevent the free end 22 from being drawn into the sleeve defined by theouter sleeve layer 28. In the illustrated embodiment, two loops 40, 42extend from the free end 22 b. One loop 40 may extend from a point ofattachment to the portion 20 b toward the outer sleeve layer 28 andtensioning member 24. Another loop 42 may extend from a point ofattachment thereof to the portion 20 b away from the outer sleeve layer28 and tensioning member 24. The loop 40 may be have a size andstiffness effective to resist entry into the sleeve defined by the outersleeve layer 28 and the inner sleeve layer 30. The loop 42 may include aloop sized to receive a wearer's finger to enable a wearer to pull onthe tensioning strap portion 20 a in order to adjust the effectivewaistband size of the trousers 10. In some embodiments, rather thanloops of the tensioning strap portion 20 b, the free end 22 may have arigid member, such as a button, that is sized to hinder the tensioningstrap portion 20 b from being drawn under the outer sleeve layer 28. Insome embodiments, no loops or other hardware are used and the free end22 is left as-is, hemmed, or otherwise configured such that it is notwidened such that it cannot be drawn under the outer sleeve layer 28.

Referring to FIG. 4, while still referring to FIG. 2, the loops 40, 42may be formed by folding of the tensioning strap portion 20 b as shownand stitching the folds. As is apparent in FIG. 4, the tensioning strapportion 20 b is folded three times such that the stitching 44 thatretains the folds passes through four layers of the tensioning strapportion 20 b. The many layers further increase the thickness of thetensioning strap portion 20 b and further hinder drawing of the free end22 into the sleeve defined by the outer sleeve layer 28 and the innersleeve layer 30. The loops 40, 42 defined by folding of the tensioningstrap portion 20 b then emanate from the stitching 44.

Referring again to FIG. 2, as noted above, the inner sleeve layer 30 andouter sleeve layer 28 may end at the common edge location 34 adjacentthe tensioning member 24. As is apparent in FIG. 2, the portions 20 a,20 b extend beyond the edge location 34 and pass into the tensioningmember 24. An anchor strip 46 is secured at both ends to the waistband14, such as by stitching 48. In some embodiments, the anchor strip 46 issecured inward of the stitching 48, such as by additional stitching 50.The tensioning strap portion 20 a may pass between the anchor strip 46and the waistband 14, such as between the two stitching areas 50, andinto the tensioning member 24. The tensioning strap portion 20 b mayemanate from the tensioning member 24 and over the anchoring strip 46such that the anchoring strip 46 is positioned between the tensioningstrap portion 20 a, 20 b. The anchoring strip 46 may facilitate thetensioning member 24 laying flat against the waistband 14. In someembodiments, the anchoring strip 46 may be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 5, while still referring to FIG. 4, the tensioningmember 24 may be a button and define an aperture 52 having one or morecross bars 54 extending parallel to one another across the aperture 52.The one or more cross bars 54 may be a sliding bar mechanism used insome buckles as known in the art. For example, the button may includeone bar, two bar, or three bars. The size, cross sectional shape, andother attributes of the one or more cross bars 54 may be according toany buckle known in the art. The tensioning strap 20 passes into oneside of the aperture 52 over and/or around the one or more cross bars 54and exits out of the same side of the aperture such that both of thetensioning strap portions 20 a, 20 b emanate from a same side of thetensioning member 24, i.e. the side facing the waistband 14.

Tensioning of the tensioning strap 20 may be accomplished by pulling onthe tensioning strap portion 20 b. The tensioning member 24 mayinherently allow tensioning of the tensioning strap portion 20 a andinherently resist releasing of tension in the portion 20 a. For example,a user may be required to lift up one edge of the illustrated buckle inorder to allow the tensioning strap portion 20 b to pass into the buckleto the tensioning strap portion 20 a as known in the art. Any otherbuckle or cord lock having any known method of use may be used to allowfor tensioning and un-tensioning of the portion 20 a.

Referring to FIG. 6, in some embodiments, the tensioning strap portion20 a may include a widened strap 56 secured thereto. For example, thewidened portion may be secured to the tensioning strap portion 20 a atsome point offset from the tensioning member 24 such that for anexpected amount by which the tensioning strap portion 20 a may be drawnthrough the tensioning member 24, the widened strap 56 will not reachthe tensioning member 24 to interfere with adjusting of the waistband14. In the illustrated embodiment, with no tension applied to thetensioning strap portion 20 a, e.g. no elastic deformation of thetensioning strap portion 20 a or deformation of the waistband 14, thepoint of securement of the widened strap 56 to the tensioning strapportion 20 a may be located beyond the edge 32 of the outer sleevelayer, such as by one, two, or more inches. The widened strap maycompletely (or nearly completely) surround the waist of the trousers andincrease comfort of the wearer throughout the waistband. The widenedstrap 56 may also distribute tension around the waistband 14 and reducelocalized bunching of the waistband of the trousers.

Referring to FIG. 7, in some embodiments, the tensioning strap portion20 b may pass under the outer sleeve layer 28 and further pass underanother outer sleeve layer 58 positioned over the inner sleeve layer 30.A gap may be present between the edge 32 of the outer sleeve layer 28and an edge 60 of the outer sleeve layer 58. Accordingly, a portion ofthe tensioning strap portion 20 b may be exposed between the edges 32,60. In the illustrated embodiment, the end 22 of the tensioning strapportion 20 b may be secured to an elastic member 62 that is secured tothe tensioning strap portion 20 b and anchored to one or more of theouter sleeve layer 58, inner sleeve layer 30, and waistband 40, such asby means of bar tack stitching 64. An undeformed length of the elasticmember 62 may be such that the elastic member 62 applies a biasing forceon the tensioning strap portion 20 b for a range of lengths of thetensioning strap portion 20 b extending from the tensioning member 24 asit is adjusted through the tensioning member 24 as described herein. Forexample, for a range of lengths from end 22 to the tensioning member 24having a maximum length that is two, three, or four inches larger than aminimum length of the range, the biasing member 62 may be sized relativeto the anchor 64 location such that the biasing member 62 appliestension to the tensioning strap portion 20 b when the pants 10 are worn.In this manner, the elastic member 62 draws slack in the tensioningstrap portion 20 b into the space between the outer sleeve layer 58 andthe inner sleeve layer 30.

In some embodiments, the outer sleeve layers 28, 58 may parts of asingle piece of material on opposite sides of an opening, the tensioningstrap portion 20 b may pass under the layers 28, 58 and be exposedthrough the opening. The tensioning strap portion 20 b may pass out of aslit in the outer sleeve layer 28 and pass back into another slit in theouter sleeve layer such that a portion of the tensioning strap portion20 b is exposed outside of the outer sleeve layer 28 between the slits.In other embodiments, a slit may be defined in the inner sleeve layer 30offset from the edge 32 of the outer sleeve layer 28. The tensioningstrap portion 20 b may pass through this slit and secure to a tensioningmember 62 positioned between the inner sleeve layer 30 and the waistband14.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described, as noted above, many changes can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, thescope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferredembodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely byreference to the claims that follow.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A garment shaped toreceive a portion of a wearer's body and including a waistbandconfigured to encircle the waist of the wearer when the portion of thewearer's body is positioned within the garment, the waistband definingan opening extending through the waistband, the garment comprising: atensioning strap anchored at a first end to the waistband on a firstside of the opening; a tensioning member having the tensioning strapextending from the first end through the tensioning member; and areceiver secured to the waistband on a second side of the opening, thesecond side opposite the first side, the receiver configured to receivethe tensioning member and selectively secure the tensioning member tothe waistband on the second side of the opening.
 2. The garment of claim1, wherein no fastener or structure, other than the tensioning memberand receiver, is configured to or operable to span the opening to couplethe waistband on the second side of the opening to the waistband on thesecond side of the opening.
 3. The garment of claim 1, wherein: thereceiver is a buttonhole; the tensioning member has an extent in a firstplane that is less than a thickness of the tensioning memberperpendicular to the first plane such that the tensioning member isinsertable edgewise into the buttonhole and resists removal when thefirst plane is substantially parallel with a portion of the waistbandsurrounding the buttonhole.
 4. The garment of claim 3, wherein thetensioning member is a button.
 5. The garment of claim 1, furthercomprising an anchor strip secured at both ends to the waistband, thetensioning strap extending from the first end, then over a first side ofthe anchor strip facing the waistband, then through the tensioningmember, and then over a second side of the anchor strip opposite thefirst side of the anchor strip.
 6. The garment of claim 1, furthercomprising a first sleeve layer and a second sleeve layer secured to thewaistband having the second sleeve layer partially overlapped by thefirst sleeve layer and extending circumferentially along the waistbandbeyond the first sleeve layer and away from the opening, the firstsleeve and second sleeve layers being secured to the waistband at upperand lower edges thereof having the second sleeve layer positionedbetween the first sleeve layer and the waistband. wherein the first endof the tensioning strap is anchored between the second sleeve layer andthe waistband.
 7. The garment of claim 6, wherein the second sleevelayer extends circumferentially around substantially all of thewaistband and the tensioning strap extends from the first side of theopening and between the second sleeve layer and the waistband to thesecond side of the opening.
 8. The garment of claim 6, wherein the firstsleeve layer includes a first sleeve layer portion and a second sleevelayer portion defining a gap between the first and second sleeve layerportions, the tensioning strap passing from the tensioning member,between the first sleeve layer portion and second sleeve layer, betweenthe second sleeve layer portion and second sleeve layer, and securing toan elastic member secured to the waistband, a portion of the tensioningstrap being exposed within the gap.
 9. The garment of claim 7, whereinthe tensioning strap includes a narrow portion and a wide portion, thewide portion extending between the waistband and a portion of the secondsleeve layer not overlapped by the first sleeve layer and a narrowportion extending between the first and second sleeve layers and throughthe tensioning member.
 10. The garment of claim 7, further comprising awidened portion secured to the tensioning strap at the second end, thewidened portion effective to hinder entry of the tensioning strapbetween the first and second sleeve layers.
 11. The garment of claim 10,wherein the widened portion is one or more loops of the tensioning strapfastened to the tensioning strap.
 12. The garment of claim 10, whereinthe widened portion includes a first loop portion extending toward thesleeve and a second loop portion extending away from the sleeve, thesecond loop portion sized to receive a wearer's finger.
 13. A method foradjusting a waist size of trousers, the trousers having leg portionsconfigured to receive legs of a wearer coupled to a waistband configuredto encircle the waist of the wearer when the legs of the wearer arepositioned in the leg portions, the waistband and leg portions defininga fly opening extending through the waistband, the method comprising:providing— a tensioning strap anchored at a first end to the waistbandon a first side of the opening; a tensioning member having thetensioning strap extending from the first end through the tensioningmember; and a receiver secured to the waistband on a second side of thefly opening, the second side opposite the first side, the receiverconfigured to receive the tensioning member and selectively secure thetensioning member to the waistband on the second side of the flyopening; pulling on the tensioning strap effective to urge thetensioning strap through the tensioning member and at least one ofreduce a length of the tensioning strap between the first end and thetensioning member and increase tension in a portion of the tensioningstrap between the tensioning member and the first end.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising fastening the first side of the waistbandto the second side of the waistband by engaging the tensioning memberwith the receiver.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiver is abuttonhole, the method further comprising: inserting the tensioningmember through the buttonhole and arranging the tensioning member suchthat portions thereof extend outwardly from opposite sides of thebuttonhole.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the tensioning member isa button.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the button has a roundperimeter.
 18. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing ananchor strip secured at both ends to the waistband, the tensioning strapextending from the first end, then over a first side of the anchor stripfacing the waistband, then through the tensioning member, and then overa second side of the anchor strip.
 19. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising providing a sleeve secured to the waistband, at least aportion of the tensioning strap passing through the sleeve and providinga widened portion secured to the tensioning strap at the second end, thewidened portion effective to hinder entry of the tensioning strap intothe sleeve.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the widened portionincludes a first loop portion extending toward the sleeve and a secondloop portion extending away from the sleeve, the method furthercomprising inserting a wearer's finger through the second loop portionand pulling the tensioning strap outwardly from the sleeve.